As a photographer, focusing on improving your craft is one of the most important things to do. Money can buy the latest equipment, but it can’t buy you knowledge of how to use that equipment.

For me, photography is not only about capturing moments but also about conveying a message through those images. A deep understanding of the artistic and philosophical aspects of photography is a must if you want to create images with intent. One way that has helped me deepen my understanding of photography was reading books about it. Here are the top 10 books that I would recommend every photographer read:

This is the most widely recommended book to read for photographers. Published in 1977, this book is a collection of essays that explore the role of photography in modern society. Susan Sontag, being a partner of Annie Leibovitz, had a deep personal involvement with photography. It is likely that the essays that she wrote about photography were inspired by the stories of Leibovitz. In the book, you will find essays on the ethics of taking photographs, the relationship between photography and reality, as well as the power of images to shape popular opinion.

Cartier-Bresson is one of the most celebrated photographers in the world and indeed one of the pioneers of modern photography. In his book, he details the ability to capture a moment where the whole photograph comes together in a perfect storm.

In my own work, I often encourage the subject to move as much as possible and then capture the moment as it’s happening in real life. In this way, I adopt the methods of Cartier-Bresson. He was indeed the master of capturing the perfect moment, and that became a cornerstone of his style. This book is a testament to his skill as a photographer and provides valuable insights into his creative process.

Every time someone asks me where did I learn light, my answer is always the same. This is the book for learning light. Forget everything you knew before reading it. This resource will teach you to light without thinking about setups. It will give you the required knowledge for dealing with almost any lighting scenario and problem. Shooting fashion, I work a lot with mixed surfaces, so being able to find the perfect light that would both show the clothes and the model in the best angle possible is a priority. Light: Science and Magic taught me all the lighting skills I have now, and I am yet to find a better resource to learn lighting.

Being able to select the perfect photograph from a series of images is a vital skill every photographer must have. One of the most significant parts of the photographic process in itself is the selection process. What you pick to be the final image is essentially what your taste is. Magnum is one of the most prestigious photo agencies in the world, and in this book, they offer a fascinating glimpse into the creative process of some of the world’s most renowned photographers such as Robert Capa and Martin Parr.

In his book Camera Lucida, Roland Barthes explores the philosophy behind photography. It is a discussion on how to create meaning with images, which is as significant as being able to light a photograph. Understanding subtexts, implications, and the impact your images can have is a great skill to have which will allow you to take images with intent. Barthes also discusses the emotional impact of images and what makes an image powerful.

Being one of the greatest photographers in the world, Annie Leibovitz offers insight into her creative process in this book. She takes the reader behind the scenes and discusses a wide range of subjects and shooting scenarios. From the emotional impact of photography to the technical aspects of her work, Leibovitz covers it all in her book. In fact, this was one of the first books I bought, and it has helped me a lot to become a better image-maker.

If you are a beginner photographer who needs help with the foundations of photography, this book is perfect for you. It’s a technical guide that covers the basics of exposure, including aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. It provides a clear and concise explanation of each concept, which leaves the reader clear on how to expose images. I strongly encourage every beginner to have this book and save time by reading it instead of searching on YouTube.

Widely regarded as the father of photography, Ansel Adams explains the workings of his equipment and gives a very technical perspective on his work. While some of the concepts may be outdated for the modern photographer, it is still a valuable read for anyone who wants to shoot on film. Another group I would recommend this book to is black and white photographers.

In this book, Geoff Dyer examines the development of photography through a series of essays about iconic photographs and the photographers behind them. To me, this is a book that offers invaluable analysis and provides the reader with tools that enable them to create images rather than take them. It is a fantastic insight into the creative process and development of photography as an art form.

In this book, Steve Simon shares his views on how to improve your photography. I tend to agree with his opinion on what makes a great photographer. It is not only technical skill but also the ability to convey an aesthetic and see the beauty in things. The wonderful thing that I found in this book is the way it is structured: 10 separate steps that will help you develop your aesthetic and find your own authentic creative voice.

Closing Thoughts

I tried to make this list a mix of both technical and non-technical books to give everyone something they like. The list is by no means complete, and I would love to hear your opinion in the comments below. Feel free to share some of your favorites with us!

Once in a while, photographers get the itch to upgrade their photography gear. Sometimes it’s just a new lens, a new body or a new accessory; others, it can be a complete overhaul. But when is it really time to do an upgrade?

In the video above, UK-based street and travel photographer Roman Fox reminds us that upgrading is not always the answer when we’re no longer happy with our photography, or even our current gear. Sometimes, all we need is a change in our current mindset, or a closer look into how our creative taste or skill level have changed.

Likewise, we don’t always need the top of the line photography gear with all the bells and whistles. Just because some pro photographer or influencer uses it doesn’t mean you have to. In fact, majority of today’s photographers don’t need a super high-end camera or lens. The pros are using these as their workhorses for a reason!

Of course, there are also instances when an upgrade is necessary, so Fox also covered those in his video. A good example is when your current gear causes some serious limitations to the photography that you want to do.

Additional reading: When is the right time to update your photography gear?

So, do you agree with the points Fox mentioned? What do you consider to be valid reasons to upgrade your photography gear? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below, or in our group discussion if you’re already part of the Photofocus Community

I had written a post not long ago providing tips for traveling with photography gear. However, a reader brought to my attention an additional aspect of gear protection that I had overlooked in my article. As a result, I have decided to create a follow-up post to address this.

Photography gear is a significant investment for photographers, and protecting it should be a top priority. Whether you are a professional photographer or a hobbyist, your gear is essential to your craft, and it’s important to take measures to ensure its safety. So, let’s look at additional protection for your photography gear.

Take photos of your gear.

One of the easiest ways to protect your photography gear is by taking photos of it. In the event of theft or loss, these photos can be used as evidence to support an insurance claim. Be sure to take photos of each piece of gear separately, as well as any accessories or attachments. You can also take photos of your gear before and after each use will help you keep track of its condition and identify any damage or missing parts. Just a thought?

Record serial numbers.

Recording the serial numbers of your gear is also an important step in protecting it. Serial numbers are unique identifiers that can help authorities track down your stolen gear. Write down the serial numbers of each piece of gear and keep them in a safe place. It’s also a good idea to keep a digital copy of this information, such as in a secure online storage account.

Invest in insurance.

One of the most significant steps you can take to protect your photography gear is to invest in insurance. While it may seem like an unnecessary expense, insurance can provide peace of mind and financial protection in the event of theft, loss or damage. Some insurance policies may also cover the cost of equipment rental in the event that your gear is being repaired or replaced. When shopping for insurance, be sure to read the fine print carefully to understand what is covered and what is not.

Pack your gear securely for travel.

When traveling with your photography gear, it’s essential to pack it securely to protect it from damage. Invest in a sturdy camera bag or backpack with ample padding to protect your gear during transit. If you are flying, carry your gear with you in your carry-on luggage to avoid the risk of loss or damage during checked baggage. If you must check your gear, ensure that it is securely packed and labeled with your contact information.

Protect your gear from the elements.

When shooting outdoors, it’s essential to protect your gear from the elements. You don’t necessarily need to invest in a high-quality camera cover to protect your camera and lenses from rain, snow, and dust. A cheap plastic poncho can do the trick and it can be easily stored in your camera bag. A lens hood can also help protect your lens from scratches and damage. Be sure to keep a cleaning cloth with you to wipe down your gear if it gets wet or dirty.

Maintain your gear.

Regular maintenance of your photography gear can help prolong its life span and prevent damage. Clean your gear regularly with a soft cloth and appropriate cleaning solutions to remove dirt and dust. Check your gear for any signs of wear and tear, such as loose screws or worn-out rubber grips. Address any issues promptly to prevent further damage.

In conclusion, protecting photography gear is essential for any photographer. Taking photos of your gear, recording serial numbers, investing in insurance, packing securely for travel, protecting your gear from the elements and maintaining your gear are all important steps in protecting your investment. By taking these measures, you can ensure that your gear remains in good condition, and that you can continue to create stunning images for years to come.

If you think I’ve left anything further out, just drop me a line, always happy to add to this list.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) – Over the weekend, guided interactive hikes in Shelby Township welcomed and observed some of the newest members of the community – bald eagles.

For Joan Bonin, photography is preservation.

“It was the eagles; it didn’t have anything to do with photography,” says Bonin, who has been documenting eagles through photography for 15 years. “Driving down the road on 28 Mile Road and I saw my first eagle there out on the ice. I was hooked after that. 

Bonin remembers vividly that first eagle encounter and each of the thousands of photos she’s taken since.

Among her latest photos are the eagles that have recently nested in Shelby Township’s Holland Ponds Park.

“Oh, I think it’s amazing, I love eagles,” says Jerry Allen, who stopped by the park with his wife, Michele.

Community members flocked to the park where Shelby Township naturalists, with the assistance of Bonin, held guided hikes so anyone interested could come see the birds and their nest from a safe distance.

“I collect statues of eagles, books of eagles, so when my wife told me about it, I couldn’t resist not coming,” Allen said.

Like many of the sightseers, Bonin says the photos being taken, whether it’s through a quality lens or not, are helping document their lives, mannerisms and if they’re in danger.

“If the eagles get hung up on fishing line, you know, you need to know that and you can only do it through photography. You’ve got it documented and you can send it to whoever needs to see it,” Bonin says.

AI has been the talk of the town around the photography industry for a few months now, with opinions ranging from it being a fantastic tool that will significantly reduce and streamline photographers’ workflows to it being the death knell of many parts of the industry. This interesting video essay features an experienced commercial photographer offering some more pragmatic and balanced thoughts on how AI will change the industry. 

Coming to you from Scott Choucino of Tin House Studio, this insightful video essay discusses the issue of AI’s growing presence in photography and what it means for the future. No doubt, AI is going to significantly impact many industries, photography included, but I also think a lot of that impact is going to be positive. For example, I have been using ChatGPT for a lot of the daily tedium I normally deal with, and it has made me wildly more efficient in many areas. The ability to use natural language to pop out Javascript code for a website at the drop of a hat, to find the right wording for something, or even to generate a list of shoot ideas is really fantastic and allows me to focus more on the things that matter. Check out the video above for Choucino’s full thoughts on the subject. 

We’ve been saying for years that there should be some sort of global Olympics for photographers, but little did we know – there has been all along. Clearly, we’ve been living under a rock. But in our defense, the competition doesn’t have the best promotion – with as little as 3,000 followers on Instagram.

The World Photographic Cup (WPC) was founded in 2013 with the singular goal to unite photographers worldwide in the spirit of friendship and cooperation. It does, however, seem to be a little exclusive with only one team per country allowed to enter, which must be created by a national association, and committee-approved. 

• These are the best professional cameras (opens in new tab) worthy of world cup winners

The WPC (opens in new tab) celebrated its tenth anniversary in March, while announcing at an awards ceremony in Singapore that Mexico had won the 2023 Cup for the second year in a row.  

The 2023 winning images (opens in new tab) are truly phenomenal examples of world-class photography, and the results of the overall competition were said to be very close, with only three points separating the podium-finishing teams. 

Team Australia claimed the second-place crystal trophy, followed by Team United States in third place. The rest of the top ten teams, in rank order, were Malaysia, Portugal, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Austria, Costa Rica and finally New Zealand in tenth place.

(opens in new tab)

Founded in 2013, it all began when the Federation of European Photographers (opens in new tab) and the Professional Photographers of America (opens in new tab) came together in the creation of the World Photographic Cup as a one-of-a-kind Olympic-style team competition.  

“The quality of images entered from teams around the world gets stronger every year,” said WPC inaugural chief executive officer, Giuseppe Scozzi. “The WPC is the only Olympics-style event in the world for photography.

“Over the past ten years the competition has grown and with it the standard of entries. WPC truly showcases the best in photography from across the world. Those who do succeed can truly claim to have created the best photography in the world and WPC is the vehicle for showcasing this work.” 

Scozzi was overseeing his last Cup, as he will be retiring from the organization to be replaced by Australian photographer Kylie Lyons – who has been a member of the WPC Governing Committee since 2014. 

The tenth edition of the WPC Collection can be viewed in a commemorative book, available to purchase (opens in new tab) for approximately $76 / £61 / AU$114.

Registration for entries (opens in new tab) to the 2024 edition of the World Photographic Cup will be open from July 01 – October 31 2023.

You might also be interested in the best Sony cameras (opens in new tab), as well as the best Canon cameras (opens in new tab) and the best Nikon cameras (opens in new tab) used by professionals. 

PARIS: Jos Avery was given a camera almost four decades ago, sparking a lifelong fascination with photography. But last September he found a new creative outlet, one that led him to deceive thousands of people: the artificial intelligence programme Midjourney, which generates wild and wonderful images from brief text instructions.

“Soon after starting with Midjourney, I became obsessed with the creative possibilities,” Avery said.

Midjourney and rivals like DALL-E 2 and Stable Diffusion generate unique pictures by mashing up a vast back catalogue of images they have been “trained” on. For Avery, a 48-year-old software engineer and lawyer by training from Virginia in the United States, Midjourney was liberating.

He said it allowed him to create beautiful art without needing to tackle his own social anxieties. “Then I started to wonder if I could make AI images that could pass for photographs,” he said.

This led to his fateful experiment: He started an Instagram account to house his Midjourney output, without being entirely upfront about the origins of the images.

‘Misleading’

“At the beginning, I don’t think many people thought the images were photographs,” he said. “The eyes and skin were unrealistic.” He fixed these glitches with a dose of Adobe Photoshop, eventually

populating his Instagram feed with stunning and stark portraits of beautiful — but unreal — people.

More users flocked to his feed, and more of them began to think the images were genuine. “People would ask in the comments about my camera and lens equipment,” he said.

“I’d respond with the equipment I actually use for real photos or equipment I had included as part of the prompt.” He admits his answers were “misleading” since they suggested he had used his gear to create those specific images.

Yet he just got deeper into the deception, spending hours choosing and editing images to boost the realism and deleting earlier efforts that were more obviously AI-generated. His follower count was rising rapidly, so the experiment was a success. But he was struggling to maintain the facade.

Losing sleep

“It grew far beyond my expectations,” Avery said. “The followers and my misleading answers made me feel uneasy, and I had trouble sleeping at night.” He eventually told the specialist website Ars Technica what he had done, added a mention of AI to his Instagram biography and started to give honest answers to his followers.

“I’ve slept a lot better since then,” he said.

Although he did get some abuse — “I had to block about 30 people” — he said the reaction overall was positive, and his Instagram account, now with almost 40,000 followers, is still growing.

These days he populates it with both real photography and clearly labelled images generated from Midjourney. He said the AI tool has been hugely beneficial, helping him discover a love for portrait photography.

But the downside is that once again he isn’t sleeping so well — he stays up all night creating images on Midjourney.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2023